Appendix 1: Complaint data

Table 1: Complaints previously reported to this Committee (at its April 2023 meeting)

Case No	Date	Status of complaint	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic *note see end of table 2 for key	Additional notes
A/2022	January 2022	Not yet determined	N/A	D	Referral of complaint for formal investigation resulted in an indicative finding by the investigator that one or more breaches had taken place. A decision was made by the Monitoring Officer in December 2022 to refer this complaint and the next two complaints in this table (ie E/2022 and J/2022) to a specially convened Standards Panel for determination. However a date before the pre election period (prior to the local elections in May) could not be found. As the member who is the subject of the complaints has now ceased to be an elected member for BHCC, the Council’s independent person is being consulted regarding next steps.
E/2022	February 2022		N/A	D	As A/2022
J/2022	February 2022		N/A	D	As A/2022
A/2023	Jan - Feb 2023	Ongoing	Part of complaint remains  at preliminary assessment stage awaiting info from another agency. The other aspects of the complaint against that member have now been determined by a decision to take no further action.	A	Complainant alleged that member had acted in a way toward them which exhibited prejudice and bias.
C/2023	Jan 2023	Decision taken to refer complaint for formal investigation.	External investigator has been appointed and is in the process of carrying out a detailed investigation, which will be reported to the Monitoring Officer and will be the subject of a further report to this Committee in due course.	A	Complainant alleged that member had engaged in conduct contrary to the Code which failed to meet appropriate standards of respect and courtesy.
H/2023	March 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Complaint ultimately determined by decision that it would not be in the public interest to refer this complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complainant alleges rudeness and a lack of courtesy in relation to a matter which should have been referred to Council officers.
I/2023	March 2023	Determined by decision to take no action at preliminary assessment stage.	Insufficient evidence of conduct contrary to the Code identified to merit referral of complaint for formal investigation.	A	Complaint alleges that the member’s communications via social media were misleading and did not accurately represent the Council’s decisions.

Table 2: Complaints received in since April 2023

Case No	Date	Status of complaint	If concluded, basis on which decision was taken	Complaint Topic * note see end of table 2 for updated key	Additional notes
J2023	May 2023	Remains at preliminary assessment stage.	N/A	A	Complainant alleges that the member has been unresponsive to the complainant’s emails and questions about the Council’s services in the local area. The subject member robustly denies breaching the Code, and this complaint has been despatched to the Independent Person so that the Monitoring Officer may consult with them re next steps.
K2023	May 2023	Remains at preliminary assessment stage.	N/A	A	Complaint against a current elected member alleges that social media posts made in the course of their campaign for  re-election breached the expectations of the Code, amongst other things in the way in which the complainant was referred to. This complaint has been despatched to the Independent Person so that the Monitoring Officer may consult with them re next steps.

Key to Complaint topics

Code	Description of type of conduct complained about
A	Complaints about members’ conduct in their wards, including when discharging their ward responsibilities or otherwise communicating with constituents or other stakeholders.
B	Complaints about comments or conduct either at council meetings, or at meetings at which members are representing BHCC
C	Complaints about conduct relating to council business or other members made outside council meetings, including on social media
D	Complaints about a member’s conduct or position on an issue which is not council business or a ward matter, including conduct or a statement reported in the press or made on social media